Positive Schools Thursday 23 rd May 2013 School-wide practices to enhance student and staff wellbeing Paige Williams Justin Robinson Positive Psychology Project Manager Head of Positive Education
What we will discuss today Geelong Grammar School s journey with Wellbeing and Positive Psychology GGS Model for Positive Education Embedding wellbeing through school-wide practices Your Questions Our next steps
The fifth step 1855 GGS founded 1914 GGS moves to Corio 1953 Timbertop established 1976 Coeducation 2009 Positive Education
What is Positive Education? Positive Education is education for both traditional skills and for happiness. Martin Seligman, 2009 Positive Education brings together the science of positive psychology with best practice teaching and learning to encourage and support schools and individuals within their communities to flourish. Geelong Grammar School, 2011
Positive Psychology as a science Focuses on teaching the skills of wellbeing to prevent mental illness rather than the reactive treatment of mental illness Endeavours to scientifically discover what makes life worth living A key tenet in the field of Positive Psychology is that the skills and mindsets which promote wellbeing can be explicitly taught
Traditional Psychology Positive Psychology The Wellbeing Continuum +10 0-10
Positive Emotions The Wellbeing Continuum Huppert and So, 2009
Two sides to Positive Psychology PREVENTING ILLNESS By teaching skills for coping with life PROMOTING WELLNESS By exploring skills for flourishing in life
Positive Emotions Bringing the model to life at GGS Live Pos. Ed. Teach Pos. Ed. Embed Pos. Ed.
Change is possible How do we know that change is possible Wellbeing research Neuroscience indicates lifelong change When we personally experience change When we observe someone change
Workshop / training effects A B C Sustainable change
The key to change The will to believe is the most important ingredient in enacting change in our lives This will is created and supported through habits. When you change a habit it shows you that change is possible and real (Duhigg, The Power of Habit, 2012)
The power of habit Habits are transformational and shape our lives Up to 40% of our daily actions aren t actual decisions but habits We form habits because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save energy How can your school develop institutional habits for wellbeing?
VIA Character Strengths Wisdom and Knowledge Curiosity / Interest Love of Learning Open-mindedness / Judgment Creativity / Originality / Ingenuity Perspective Courage Bravery / Valour Persistence / Industry / Perseverance Honesty / Integrity / Authenticity Zest / Enthusiasm Humanity Capacity to love and be loved Kindness / Generosity Social Intelligence / Friendship Justice Teamwork / Citizenship / Loyalty Fairness / Equity / Justice Leadership Temperance Forgiveness / Mercy Modesty / Humility Prudence / Caution / Discretion Self-control / Self-regulation Transcendence Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence Gratitude Hope / Optimism Humour and Playfulness Spirituality / Faith / Sense of purpose
Character Strengths metaphor You are the conductor of your strengths
Signature Strengths on BlackBoard
Positive Emotions Character Strengths: Practices Using a strengths perspective Use strengths-based language Identify strengths in use name and celebrate Refer to them frequently in conversation, activities, curriculum, systems Exploring character strengths Owning, using and nurturing strengths Have fun with them!
Positive Emotions Positive Relationships: Definition Increasing social and emotional skills in order to create and promote strong and nourishing relationships with self and others. Key Skills and Knowledge Social and Emotional Intelligence Friendship and teamwork Kindness and Empathy Active Constructive Responding Forgiveness Self-determination Theory
Spotting strengths Kindness, Leadership, Love, Humour
Spotting strengths
Parents writing at their best stories
Positive Relationships
Positive Relationships
Building Positive Relationships Strengths Spotting Activity Worksheets Page 5 With family members, friends, colleagues
Positive Emotions Positive Relationships: Practices Appreciate strengths Take time to foster positive relationships Spot strengths in other people Share with them the strengths you see and how they action them
Positive Emotions Positive Emotion: Definition Experiencing a broad range of positive emotions and developing skills and knowledge to anticipate, initiate, experience, prolong and build positive experiences. Key Skills and Knowledge Broaden and Build Theory Positivity Ratio Savouring Expressing Gratitude Random Acts of Kindness
Positive Emotion
Positive Emotion
Panning for Gold : Tips Writing trumps thinking Specific trumps general Adding a reflection adds value Aim for variety of content The magic of the number 3 Frequency is important
Positive Emotions Positive Emotion: Practices Panning for Gold Begin meetings with positive stories Encourage students to identify what went well Foster gratitude through journaling Use positive emotions to enable success
Positive Emotions Positive Health: Definition Practising sustainable habits for optimal physical and psychological health that are developed from a sound knowledge base. Key Skills and Knowledge Energy Management Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise Resilience Skills Optimism and Explanatory styles Mindfulness Training Self-regulation
Positive Health
Positive Emotions Positive Health: Practices Mind Full, or Mindful? Teach mindfulness skills to students + staff Create the space for mindfulness in the day Make mindfulness a habit in classroom practice
Positive Emotions Positive Engagement: Definition Promoting complete immersion in activities through understanding the nature of engagement, the pathways to it and the function it has in individual wellbeing. Key Skills and Knowledge Flow Passion Character strengths Motivational Theory Creativity
Student Engagement Year 11 Focus Day 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Student Engagement Year 11 Focus Day 5 Ways to Wellbeing House Positive Education Reps Year 10 PosEd book choices
Staff Engagement Extensive Positive Psychology library Journal Club Staff training and Refreshers each term TED talks
Parent Engagement Communicate, communicate, communicate Guest speakers Parent information evenings Personal development/ training
Positive Engagement
Positive Emotions Positive Engagement: Practices Don t journey alone Engage students, staff and parents by giving them opportunity, choice, and efficacy Make it interesting and enjoyable!
Positive Emotions Positive Accomplishment: Definition Developing individual potential through striving for and achieving meaningful outcomes. Key Skills and Knowledge Mindsets Goal Theory Hope Theory Self-efficacy Delayed gratification
Fixed and Growth Mindsets FIXED MINDSET You believe your talents and abilities are set in stone. You must prove yourself over and over, trying to look smart and talented at all costs. GROWTH MINDSET You know that talents can be developed and that great abilities are built over time. You believe that your qualities can be cultivated through your efforts.
Mindset research Mindset impacts: How we approach challenges How we respond to setbacks Our attitude towards effort Our response to criticism
Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset Fixed Mindset Attribute success/failure to their own intelligence or ability (or lack thereof) Overly concerned with appearing smart Avoid challenges Likely to abandon tasks when faced with setbacks Growth Mindset Attribute success/failure to their own efforts or strategies (or lack thereof) Pass up opportunities to appear smart in favour of learning something new Welcome challenges Likely to persevere and succeed in the face of setbacks
Quiz: Fixed or Growth Mindset? Statement Fixed or Growth? I like it when people tell me how to improve I am no good at studying and never have been I m not very good at maths, but neither was my mum, I have inherited her maths genes I get really nervous when facing a challenge, but then I start working on it and enjoy the challenge If I can t do something, I give up to avoid the embarrassment
Fixed or Growth Statements? Statement I like it when people tell me how to improve I am no good at studying and never have been I m not very good at maths, but neither was my mum, I have inherited her maths genes I get really nervous when facing a challenge, but then I start working on it and enjoy the challenge If I can t do something, I give up to avoid the embarrassment Fixed or Growth? Growth Fixed Fixed Growth Fixed
Mindsets Where do you sit at the moment? (http://mindsetonline.com/testyourmindset/)
Mindsets: Mindsets Activity Worksheets Page 6 Who is someone you know who dramatically improved their performance? What is an area in which you once had low ability but can now perform quite well? In what areas of your life do you have a fixed or growth mindset?
Positive Accomplishment
Positive Accomplishment: Practices
Positive Emotions Positive Purpose: Definition Understanding, believing in and serving something greater than yourself and deliberately engaging in activities for the benefits of others. Key Skills and Knowledge Meaning and Purpose Spirituality Community and belonging Altruism Community service
Positive Purpose
Positive Purpose: Practices Wellbeing as your positive purpose Be intentional and explicit about your purpose Use community gatherings Assemblies, Schools events, Chapel services, to explore and explain the deeper why Encourage and enable (with time) students and staff to consider and be intentional about their positive purpose
Flourish
Evaluating Pos. Ed. Positive Education has changed my outlook as both a student and citizen of the world. As I travel through life, I know that when the inevitable issues and adversities come along that I will be ready because of the tools that Positive Psychology has helped me possess. I have learnt to look at things in perspective and understand that my own beliefs have consequences on my actions and emotions and that by changing those beliefs I can act accordingly in times of trial: I can learn and grow from these times. GGS student Positive Education is a waste of time. I ve learnt nothing all semester that I didn t know already. It has done nothing. GGS student
Evaluating Pos. Ed.
GGS Longitudinal Study Enhancing adolescent mental health through positive education at Geelong Grammar School Key aspects: Track our Year 9 students for three years Subjective measures of wellbeing Online survey battery Experience sampling methodology - Ipods Psychobiological measures Saliva testing for cortisol levels Student focus groups
Making and sustaining change
We remember 10% of what we READ 20% of what we HEAR 30% of what we SEE 50% of what we both SEE and HEAR 70% of what we DISCUSS WITH OTHERS 80% of what we EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY 95% of what we TEACH TO SOMEONE ELSE William Glasser
Positive Emotions Impact vs. Effort matrix High Your best options are here I M P A C T Then here Low EFFORT EFFORT High Not so good here I M P A C T Probably not worth considering Low
Our next steps Your personal action card Share your action with a neighbour!
Positive Emotions GGS Positive Education training Four day, fully residential course at our Corio campus Available to all Australian teachers An in-depth personal exploration of the key tenets of Positive Education, including sample lesson plans $1800 (All course materials, food and accommodation included) Course 1: 24 th 27 th June Course 2: 24 th 27 th September
Food for thought Be playful with your ideas for wellbeing, ask yourself: is it helpful, is it hopeful, is it educational, is it fun? Jenny Fox-Eades The purpose of life is not to be happy, but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make a difference that you lived at all. Leo Rosten